Voter intimidation in Floridians’ mailboxes

The FBI and U.S. Postal Service agents are investigating bogus official-looking letters sent to voters in at least 28 Florida counties questioning their citizenship and their eligibility to vote, NBC News has learned.

David Couvertier, a spokesman for the FBI in Tampa, said his office opened up an investigation into the possible attempt at voter intimidation on Wednesday after receiving reports that eligible voters throughout the state have received the letters. […]

The fake letters, which first started showing up last Friday, have been sent under the names of real Florida county election supervisors – with some correct contact information – informing the voters that the supervisors have received “information” about their citizenship status, “bringing into doubt your eligibility as a registered voter.”

The materials reference a non-existent Voter Eligibility Form that the targeted Floridians are told to fill out in order to stay on the voter rolls.

Chris Cate, a spokesman for the Florida Secretary of State’s Office, told NBC News, “We believe these letters appear to meet the standard of voter intimidation.” Between 50 and 100 such letters have been reported to state officials so far, “and those are only the ones we know about. We’re encouraging people to come forward.”

Though state and federal law enforcement are still gathering information on how widespread the tactics are, most of the known letters were sent to Florida Republicans, though plenty of Democrats and independents have also been targeted.